Archive for the architecture Category

Spanish architects Subarquitectura designed this beautiful tram stop, located in the city of Alicante, Spain, which would be the central stage of a new line of the tram that links the center of the city to the residential areas. To avoid the existing trees the fractal access system had to make some changes in each side; the travelers can arrive to the platform in 32 different possibilities. Over the platforms, 2 vacant containers (36 meter long, 3 meter wide and 2,5 meter high) create a floating space. The openings allow light and air through as a soft breeze in summer months and at nights the containers are transformed into two huge lamps. Benches are spread over the garden close to the paths, creating a public space. I like!

Spanish architects Dosmasuno have completed an apartment block in the Madrid suburb of Carabanchel, consisting of 102 apartments of the same layout, with further bedrooms housed in protruding modules. The designers feel that “Despite the guidelines drawn on the plots, places need to express their own personality, to arise naturally, to construct themselves”. Working on this idea, they have designed this beautiful building that is geometric, pure, serene and playful, all at the same time. Maybe a little clinical/monotonous owing to the choice of color, but I think colors would automatically be added when people start living in there. And I love the huge masses jutting out at intervals, forming the extra bedrooms within. They offer a very playful dynamism to the whole built form.

The Leaf chapel designed by Klein Dytham architecture sits within the grounds of the Risonare hotel resort in Kobuchizawa, a refreshingly green setting with beautiful views to the southern Japanese Alps, Yatsugatuke peaks and Mt.Fuji. The chapel is formed by 2 leaves – one glass, one steel – which have seemingly fluttered to the ground. The glass leaf with its delicate lace pattern motif emulates a pergola and the structure holding it up reminds one of the veins of a leaf which slowly become thinner the further they get from the central stem. The white steel leaf, perforated with 4700 holes, each of which hold an acrylic lens, is similar to bride’s veil made of delicate lace. Light filters through the lenses and projects a lace pattern onto the white fabric inside. At the end of the ceremony when the groom lifts the bride’s veil for the legendary kiss the ‘steel veil’ magically opens too, revealing the pond and the enchanting nature beyond.

Well, I’ve lifted the entire text from the designers’ website…..I guess the structure needed the detailed description to be fully appreciated. I quite liked the idea, it is both modern and baroquish at the same time. And it is a refreshing new way of looking at a chapel, both architecturally and spiritually.

Am truly awe-struck with the design of the Rolling Bridge, a project by Heatherwick Studio, located in London near GrandUnion Canal…..Rather than a conventional opening bridge mechanism, consisting of a single rigid element that lifts to let boats pass, the Rolling Bridge gets out of the way by curling up until its two ends touch. While in its horizontal position, the bridge is a normal, inconspicuous steel and timber footbridge; fully open, it forms a circle on one bank of the water that bears little resemblance to its former self.

No wonder it won the 2005 British Structural Steel Award! Here is a video of the Rolling Bridge in action….I see it and my heart goes – WoW!

Came across the the Exo emergency housing designed by Refugia for, as the name suggests, refugees of natural disasters. The Exos are shelter units that make up the backbone of the Reaction housing system. They provide private living and sleeping quarters for a family of four within a climate-controlled environment. Each Exo is durable enough to be stored on a long-term basis and flat packs for efficient storage and transportation. The Exo’s design allows for numerous configurations to meet any need or deployment condition.

Reaction is a comprehensive, rapid-deploy housing system with a variety of configurations that can meet any challenge related to a disaster, natural or manmade. It primarily consists of shelter units, accessories, and supporting infrastructure that can be rapidly transported in mass via conventional means to almost any location in the world. At the core of the system is the Exo shelter units, with each unit being manufactured at a cost of $5000.00 or less. Reaction is designed to be flexible, reusable, and inexpensive.

I like the whole concept because, it shows how design can still be an integral part of and contribute sensitively to non-conventional contexts. How design could actually lead to economic as well as eco-sensitive solutions that would be of use to common man at times of need.Check out the website for more detailed info.

The 2008 London Design Festival will see the launch of greengagedat the Design Council – a hub of events, debates, workshops, exhibitions, seminars and masterclasses which will bring together all sectors of the design industry to focus on sustainability issues, exchange ideas and carve out new roles for design.

Hosted by the Design Council in Covent Gardengreengaged is set to be one of the highlights of this year’s festival, examining ecological imperatives, political and social drivers, and sustainable design strategies across disciplines from product design to graphics, service design to fashion.

greengaged aims to galvanise designers to take up the sustainable challenge and will feature some of the most forward-thinking designers and innovators in their fields to engage the wider design industry in getting involved, becoming informed and sharing expertise and opinions.

With increasing incidences of natural calamities striking almost all parts of the globe, the need for emergency housing has never been more evident. The Accordion reCover Shelter designed by Matthew Malone, Amanda Goldberg, Jennifer Metcalf and Grant Meacham, which can sustain a family of four following a disaster for up to a month, is indeed the need of the times. The oversized origami structure can be entirely collapsed into not one, but two different shapes (either horse-shoe or flat) depending on which is easier to transport. It is composed of polypropylene, meaning no harmful gases go into the production of the shelter and it is 100% recyclable after use. Set-up takes minutes and only requires one person on deck.

Once the temporary residence is unfolded, the functional ridges can be used to collect drinking water, and local materials or even ground cover can be used to better insulate the structure and keep harsh weather at bay. As a sustainable and inexpensive solution to provide a quick roof over victim’s heads…..love it for the design, detailing and of course the concept.